Luke Del Rio has never started a college football game but that will change on September 3.
Del Rio, a redshirt sophomore who was recently placed on scholarship, was named the Florida Gators starting quarterback prior to Florida’s second scrimmage on Friday. Del Rio had been battling fellow transfer Austin Appleby for the starting job this spring and fall.
“Luke is going to work as the starter the rest of camp and start in the season opener barring any unforeseen development,” McElwain said in a release by the school. “Our other quarterbacks remain in the plans and are ready to move forward and help the Gators any way they can.”
Del Rio originally walked on at Alabama, where Doug Nussmeier was the offensive coordinator at the time. Del Rio transferred to Oregon State, where he played in three games before a coaching change sent him looking for a new school. He found familiar faces in Jim McElwain, who offered Del Rio a scholarship offer at Colorado State, and Nussmeier. He sat out the 2015 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but provided value running Florida’s scout team. It also gave him the edge he needed this fall.
“The first thing that comes to mind is the experience in the offense,” Del Rio said when asked where he held an advantage in the quarterback race. “This will be my third year in the offense including Alabama. Austin’s done a great job of learning the system and the freshmen have done a really good job this camp at putting in the work off the field. Not necessarily with Coach Nuss, but by themselves picking up the nuances of the offense.”
Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, will backup Del Rio. Appleby played in five games for the Boilermakers in 2015. He completes 57.5 percent of his passes for 1,260 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He started the first three games before being replaced as the starter by redshirt freshman David Blough.